Adjustable night sight for a pistol

ABSTRACT

An adjustable night sight for a pistol includes a sight base, a vertical tilt member and a horizontal windage slide. The three components form the adjustable night sight which can be mounted on a slide of a pistol. Sources of luminescence are used to define a rear sight notch. The adjustable night sight horizontal windage slide is supported very securely on the vertical tilt member so that it will not fail under high stress loads. The overall sight assembly is very smooth and compact. It provides much greater resistance to snagging than has been exhibited in prior sight assemblies.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This U.S. patent application claims the benefit, under 35 USC 119e and120 of U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/748,179, filed Dec. 8,2005. That provisional patent application is related to pending U.S.patent application Ser. No. 10/922,918. The disclosures of theseapplications are expressly incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed generally to a rear sight assemblythat is adapted for use with a pistol. More specifically, the presentinvention is directed to an adjustable rear sight assembly which isadjustable for both elevation and windage. More specifically the presentinvention is directed to an elevation and windage adjustable night sightfor a pistol.

The adjustable night sight in accordance with the present inventionincludes a sight base that is configured to be received in a Novak-typenotch on the upper surface of the pistol's slide. The windage adjustmentslide of the sight is movable transversely to the slide and is verydurable. Night sighting capability is provided by the use of tritium, ortritium-type vials that can define the sighting notch in the shiftablewindage adjustable slide.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A typical handgun or pistol has optical alignment fixtures or sightsincluding a front sight and a rear sight which are aligned with oneanother to form a sight picture for aligning the pistol's point of aimon a target. Prior art pistol sights are usually mounted along the topedge of the pistol. Traditional semi-automatic pistols (such as the wellknown Colt model 1911, caliber .45) include a grip or handle carrying alower receiver and a trigger mechanism, with a slide member slidablysupported on the lower receiver and surrounding the barrel.

The traditional front sight is a vertically projecting blade, post orramp-like member mounted at the front of the slide and the rear sight isadapted for mounting to the rear of the slide using a dovetail shapedtransverse protrusion that mates with a corresponding transversedovetail shaped slot in the pistol's slide.

Police officers and members of the military require especially ruggedsights on their weapons and so a genre of firearms and accessoriesadapted for “combat carry” has evolved to serve their special needs.

The applicant developed a fixed sight intended to provide a smooth andsnag-free draw, a clear sight picture and rugged service; theapplicant's fixed sight design is shown in Design Patent D447,205.Others, including gunsmith Wayne Novak, have also developed a number ofdesigns for sights intended to provide rugged service, and such sightsare often fitted in a transverse dovetailed notch having standardizeddimensions known in the industry as the “Novak notch” dimensions. By“transverse” is meant in a direction at a right angle to the pistol boreand lying in a horizontal plane when the pistol is held in a standardvertically aligned grip with the bore centerline in a horizontal plane.Generally, the standard notch will slidably receive and support adovetail-like projection that is 12.5 millimeters (mm) in fore-aftlength along a planar bottom surface and tapers inwardly at a selectedangle (e.g., 60 to 70 degrees) from horizontal on front and back wallsurfaces; the bottom planar surface of the sight's dovetail shapedprojection is preferably 3 mm in vertical height from the upper surfaceof the notch opening, within customary gunsmithing tolerances.

While the combat sights of the prior art do provide a smooth andsnag-free draw, a clear sight picture and rugged service, they do notprovide the adjustability many have come to enjoy when using targetpistols equipped with adjustable target sights.

Pistol sights are often used in a variety of situations. A sight iscustomarily optically aligned along the axis of the bore and used toalign the bore of the firearm with the target. Target sights are usuallyadjustable in the left and right direction for “windage” and in the upand down direction for “elevation.” Usually, a shooter will mount asight to a firearm and then immediately “zero” the sight by a procedureof adjusting windage and elevation settings so that the sight's point ofaim corresponds with the projectile's point of impact for a selectedtarget at a desired range.

Traditional combat carry sights, as described above, are usually notadjustable for windage, and so shooters have turned to permanentlyaltering the front sight post by filing it down (to raise the point ofimpact) or substituting a taller front sight blade (to lower the pointof impact). Adjustments for windage have required the shooter to strikethe side of the sight with a pin punch and hammer, to force the sightlaterally in the notch, a procedure which does not permit fineadjustment.

If a target sight is mounted to a large caliber firearm generating largerecoil forces, the zero may change after firing several rounds and thesight must then be adjusted for proper zero again. Target sights arealso relatively fragile, and may move out of adjustment if a pistol isdropped or struck. Both of these results present an unsatisfactoryresult if the firearm is to be used in life-threatening situations.

It is known to provide adjustable windage and elevation rear sights foruse with various popular pistols. The applicant has invented severalsuch rear sight assemblies that have gained wide acceptance in themarket, both with sport users; law enforcement personnel and militaryforces. These sights provide the ability to adjust and to re-adjust therear sight to compensate for different elevational requirements dictatedby shooter to target distance changes, and to compensate for differentwindage requirement which can vary as quickly as the weather changes.

In the prior sights, there has been an issue of durability, particularlyamong high volume users. The windage slide is typically supported by thesight base through the use of a threaded sleeve that is slidable in atransverse bore or chamber. A relatively thin web extends from thesleeve, through a slot in the base and connects to the bottom of thewindage slide. In the course of thousands of violent reciprocations ofthe slide, to which the rear sight is attached, that web may fracture.Such a fracture is obviously unacceptable as it renders the sightnon-functional.

Night sights have become available and are popular with professionalusers, such as law enforcement personnel and military forces. Thesenight sights, which are often referred to as defensive night sights, arecharacterized by their use of a luminescent material to define thesighting notch in the rear sight. Similar luminescent sources have alsobeen incorporated into the front sight assemblies of various pistols.Since these night sights are often used in pistols that are subjected tohazardous and often very rugged use, it is essential that the nightsight be robust and able to withstand such use. Unfortunately, variousones of the night sights that are currently available have not been ableto withstand the rigors to which they are subjected. Again the resulthas been a sight which has failed, thus rendering the weapon to which itis attached much less effective.

Previously available adjustable rear sights for pistols have been proneto not be smooth, compact and to present a low risk of snagging duringunholstering or placement into a use position. The various screws, knobsand adjustment devices in prior adjustable rear pistol sights havetended to be somewhat delicate and snag-prone. It is readily apparentthat such a structure is not acceptable for incorporation into a pistolthat may be used by a person whose life may well depend on his abilityto place the pistol in a use position.

It will thus be clear that there has been a need in the art for anadjustable night sight that is usable with a pistol and which overcomesthe limitations of the prior devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an adjustable nightsight for a pistol.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an adjustablenight sight which is robust and which will not fail over thousands ofduty cycles.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an adjustablenight sight that is smooth in overall physical structure and which isthus not prone to snagging.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an adjustablenight sight for a pistol which has superior night sighting capabilities.

The aforesaid objects are achieved individually and in combination, andit is not intended that the present invention be construed as requiringtwo or more of the objects to be combined unless expressly required bythe claims attached hereto.

In accordance with the present invention, an optical aligninginstrument, or sight, is adapted for use in a Novak-style dovetail, asis customarily seen on the slide of an automatic pistol. The sightassembly includes a rear notch, in the embodiments illustrated below,but could just as easily include a peep aperture or other opticalalignment structure. The rear sight provides an easy click-detentadjusting mechanism for horizontal translation of the notch, as well asa second click-detent mechanism for vertical translation of thestructure defining the notch, thereby providing for the customaryadjustments of windage and elevation, without requiring the shooter toeither file down the front sight or to strike his or her pistol with ahammer and drift pin.

In the adjustable pistol rear night sight of the present invention, theadjustable sight assembly includes a sight base which is provided with adownwardly-projecting, dovetail-shaped member that is adapted to fit inthe pistol's transverse dovetail slot. The base carries a vertical tiltmember which is hinged to rotate about an axis that is defined by anelevation-tilt hinge pin which is carried by laterally spaced bosses orvertical walls projecting up from the base. The vertical translation ofthe sighting notch, or other similar optical alignment structure, isaccomplished by adjusting an elevation adjustment screw which isremovably received in a threaded bore defined in the vertical tiltmember and threadably received in the sight base. The elevationadjustment screw has a flanged head adapted to engage or to cooperatewith a detent mechanism to provide positive click adjustment to give theuser feedback, and to maintain the zero setting during rugged use of thefirearm. The vertical tilt member is biased upwardly, away from the baseby a coil spring or other elastic force-supplying structure referred tohereinafter as a “spring”.

In the adjustable sight assembly of the present invention, the verticaltilt member carries a horizontal slide which preferably includes ordefines a sighting notch that is translatable in the horizontal, orwindage, direction by use of a click-detent windage adjustment screw.The windage adjustment screw also has a flanged head adapted to engageor to cooperate with a detent mechanism to thereby provide a positiveclick adjustment, give the user feedback and to maintain a zero settingof the sight during rugged use of the firearm. The horizontal slidemember has a lower slide sleeve. The interior of the cylindrical sleeveis threaded to receive and to cooperate with the threaded windageadjustment screw. The windage adjustment screw moves the cylindricalsleeve of the horizontal slide member left and right laterally throughan adjustment range, as provided by a slot which is defined in thevertical tilt member. The windage adjustment screw is kept in place by athreaded member or nut which is received in a circular receiving socketor aperture on the side of the vertical tilt member. The depth of thesocket is substantially equal to the thickness of the nut so that thenut is sunken within the side wall to provide a flush fit. The windageadjustment screw has first and second outer diameters, with the distalend of the windage adjustment screw having a smaller diameter than themajority of the length of the elevation adjustment screw body which isreceived in the threaded sleeve. The smaller distal portion of theelevation adjustment screw is threadably received in the retaining nutwhich, being round, spins freely within the socket which is defined inthe side of the vertical tilt member. Rotation of the windage adjustmentscrew causes the cylindrical sleeve member carried by the horizontalslide to move left and right freely within the vertical tilt membertunnel. A substantially rectangular slot in the vertical tilt memberprovides clearance for the supporting segment of the horizontal slidewhich connects the horizontal slide member's cylindrical segment to therest of the horizontal slide, defining the sighting notch.

The adjustable night sight, in accordance with the present inventionovercomes a number of the limitations of prior devices of this generaltype. The attachment of the horizontal slide to the vertical belt memberis accomplished using a much larger layer bearing surface that wasprovided in the prior devices. In addition, the cooperating engagablefaces of the horizontal slide and of the vertical tilt member each havecooperatively angled or inclined faces. These cooperating inclined faceseffectively prevent the pivoting or shifting movement which has been aptto characterize prior horizontal slide portions of the windageadjustment sections of adjustable rear sights. The provision of somewhatinclined bearing surfaces is effective to prevent this pivoting orrocking motion that has been apt to cause the horizontal slide tofracture or break under strenuous usage.

In the adjustable night sight in accordance with the present invention,the sources of luminescence, which are typically tritium vials, areplaced in purpose specific receptacles on the body of the horizontalslide. Such a positioning does not detract from the smooth, snag-freeoverall robust and durable structure of the adjustable night sight for apistol, in accordance with the present invention.

In use, the adjustable night vision sight assembly is installed byinserting its dovetail-shaped base into the Novak-style transversedovetail-shaped slot in a pistol slide or firearm receiver. The gunsmithor shooter estimates an appropriate central location for the sightassembly. A base set screw is then tightened, preferably with an Allenwrench or hex key, to at least preliminarily fix the lateral position ofthe sight assembly in the slide notch. Once the sight assembly has beeninstalled, the user may twist the elevation adjustment screw against itsdetent to adjust the vertical translation of the vertical tilt member,which swings through an arc about the hinge pin. The elevationadjustment of the sight is held steady by the elevation tilt biasspring, which may provide some shock-absorbent qualities in the eventthe pistol is dropped. The user then turns the windage adjustment screwagainst its spring-biased detent to laterally translate the horizontalslide to adjust the lateral position of the sighting notch and the pointof impact for a given point of aim.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A full and complete understanding of the adjustable night sight for apistol, in accordance with the present invention, may be had byreferring to the detailed description of the preferred embodiments, asset forth subsequently, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings,in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a typical pistol showing a firstembodiment of the adjustable night sight in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the slide portion of the pistoldepicted in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the pistol slide shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the first preferred embodimentof the adjustable night sight in accordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 5 a-5 f are views of the assembled adjustable night sight of FIG.4;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a horizontal slide portion of the firstembodiment of the adjustable night sight of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a rear elevation view of the horizontal slide;

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a second preferred embodimentof an adjustable night sight in accordance with the subject inventionand depicting two alternative horizontal slides;

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of a third preferred embodimentof an adjustable night sight in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a side elevation view of a portion of a slide of a pistolhaving the adjustable night sight of FIG. 10 installed;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the slide of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is an exploded projection view of a fourth preferred embodimentof a slide assembly in accordance with the present invention; and

FIGS. 14 a-14 f are views of the assembled adjustable night sight ofFIG. 13.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring initially to FIG. 1, there may be seen, generally at 20 apistol on which an adjustable night sight in accordance with the presentinvention could be mounted. It is to be understood that pistol 20 is notintended to be a depiction of any specific make of pistol. Instead, itis intended to be representative of a class of pistols, typically 45caliber or 9 mm pistols that the adjustable night sight is intended foruse with. Pistol 20 includes a pistol body 22, a trigger assembly 24, ahandle 26 and a slide 28. As is well known to one of skill, the slide 28reciprocates longitudinally with respect to the body 22 during firing ofthe pistol 20, as the spent casing is ejected and as a fresh round ischambered. This slide reciprocation is repeated for each firing cycleand creates large stress forces on the pistol.

Turning to FIG. 2 the slide 28 of the pistol is provided with front andrear, generally transversely extending Novak-style notches 30 and 32,respectively. Such Novak-style notches 30 and 32 are well known in theart and do not need a great deal of description. Each includes agenerally planar notch base and front and rear angled notch walls, 36and 38, respectively. A transverse axis of each such notch is generallyperpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the slide 28. The notch base 34and the inclined front and rear notch walls 36 and 38 define a generallydovetail notch that has generally standard and well-known dimensions.

Referring again to FIG. 1, a front sight 40 is positioned in the frontnotch 30. Such a font sight 40 will typically include a front sightblade 42 which is alignable with a sighting notch in a rear sightassembly, generally at 50, again as seen in FIG. 1. It is to this rearsight assembly, generally at 50 that the subject invention is directed.The front sight 40 cooperates with the rear sight 50 of the presentinvention. However, the rear sight 50 of the present invention, as itsseveral embodiments will be discussed in detail subsequently, does notrequire a specific type of front sight 40 to be used with. Since theadjustable rear sight, in accordance with the present invention isprovided with a source of luminescence, as will be described in detailsubsequently, the front sight blade 42 will typically also have sometype of luminescent tip or blade edge, usually at 44. The specificnature of this front sight luminescence is not an essential aspect ofthe present invention.

Turning now to FIG. 4 there may be seen, generally at 100 a firstpreferred embodiment of an adjustable night sight in accordance with thepresent invention. Adjustable night sight 100 is comprised of threeprimary components, a sight base 102, a vertical tilt member 104 and ahorizontal windage slide 106. These three components, when assembled aswill be described in detail shortly, form an operational adjustable rearsight 100 that can be attached to the rear Novak-style notch 32 of atypical pistol 20, as depicted in FIG. 1.

The sight base, generally at 102 is somewhat in the shape of a truncatedpyramid and includes a sight base bottom surface 108. That base bottomsurface 108 is dimensioned to be receivable in the Novak-style frontnotch 30 of the pistol 20. A front sight base wall 110 and a rear sightbase wall 112 extend upwardly from the front sight base. These walls 110and 112 are both inclined at angles which are complementary to the frontand rear walls 36 and 38 of the rear Novak-style notch 32 of the pistolslide 22. Spaced first and second sight base side walls 114 and 116extend up from the sight base bottom 108 and are generally parallel toeach other. Each of these walls 114 and 116 is somewhat trapezoidal inside view, due to the upward and inward inclinations of the front andrear sight base walls 110 and 112, respectively.

As may be seen in FIG. 4, the sight base 102 is generally channel-shapedwith the bottom 108 forming the channel base and with the side walls 114and 116 defining the channel sides. A pair of threaded sight basesecurement bases 118 and 120 extend through the sight base bottom. Theseare sized to receive a pair of threaded sight base securement setscrews, generally at 122. A central sight base threaded bore 124 isplaced in the middle of the sight base bottom 108 between the twothreaded sight base situation bases 118 and 120.

Sight vertical tilt member, generally at 104 has a generally cuboid bodythat is defined by a planar bottom 130, as seen in FIG. 5 b, first andsecond side walls 132 and 134, a rear wall 136, a top surface 138 and afront wall 140. A tilt member tongue generally at 142 extends forwardlyfrom the front wall 140 of the vertical tilt member 104. That tongue 142has a transverse tongue hinge bore 144. Tongue 142 is sized to fit intothe channel space provided in the sight base 102 between the two sightbase side walls 114 and 116. Each of these sight base side walls has ahinge pin receiving aperture 146, 148, respectively. When the verticaltilt member base tongue 142 is placed in the sight base channel, a hingepin 150 can be inserted through the aligned base apertures 146 and 148and the tongue bore 144. The pin 150 will be retained in place by asuitable means, not specifically shown.

A shouldered vertical bore 152 is formed in the vertical tilt membertongue 142. This shouldered bore 152 receives an elevation adjustmentscrew 154 which has an enlarged head 156 and a threaded shank 158. Thethreaded shank 158 has a distal end 100, remote from the enlarged head156, that is sized to be received in the sight base central threadedbase 124. A pair of biasing coil springs 162, or similar resilientmembers are interposed between the upper surface of the sight basebottom 108 and the bottom 130 of the vertical tilt member 104. Thebottom 130 of the vertical tilt member could be provided with shallowbores, not specifically shown, into which upper ends of these biasingcoil springs 162 could be inserted.

Once the vertical tilt member 104 has been connected to the sight base102 by use of the hinge pin 150, the elevation adjustment screw 156 willbe threaded into place. The biasing springs 162 will urge the verticaltilt member's rear portion up off the sight base. This will be effectiveto vary the elevation of the horizontal slide 106 to vary the elevationof the rear sight. An undersurface of the enlarged head 156 of theelevation adjustment screw 154 has a plurality of radially extendingscallops or grooves 164. A detent ball 166 is included in the shoulderportion 168 of the shouldered vertical bore 152. The detent ball 166will engage an aligned one of the scallops or grooves 164 on theundersurface of the screw head 156 of the elevation adjusting screw 154.It provides an audible click that allows the sight's user to determine amagnitude of sight vertical adjustment. It also provides a brake orretainer capability so that the elevation adjustment screw 154 will notrotate unintentionally.

Again referring to FIG. 4, the body of the vertical tilt member,generally at 104, has an enlarged transverse chamber 170. This chamberdoes not extend completely from the left side wall 134 to the right sidewall 132 of the vertical tilt member 104. While the chamber 170 is openat the left side wall 134, it is closed at the right side wall 132. Ashouldered horizontal bore 172 is formed in the right side wall 132 ofthe vertical tilt member 104 and is adapted to receive a windageadjustment screw 174. That windage adjustment screw 174 has an enlargedhead 176 and a threaded shank. An undersurface of the enlarged head 176is provided with channels or scallops 180. These engage a detent ball182 for the same purpose as was described in connection with theelevation adjustment screw 154. An elongated upper slit 184 is formed inthe body of the vertical tilt member and as may be seen in FIG. 4,extends from the interior transverse chamber 170 to the surface of thebody of the vertical tilt member 104. A windage bias spring 185 which istypically provided as a coil spring, is situated in the chamber 170 andhas a purpose as will be discussed shortly.

The third element of the adjustable night sight in accordance with thepresent invention, is the horizontal windage slide 106. As may be seenin FIG. 4, this horizontal windage slide 106 has an upper slide body186, and a lower slide sleeve 188. The upper slide body 180 includes asight notch 190 which extends from a front wall 192 longitudinallythrough the slide body upper body to a slide body rear wall 194. Theslide sleeve 188 is provided with a threaded sleeve bore 196 as may beseen most clearly in FIG. 8. This sleeve 188 is sized so that it will beslidably receivable in the vertical tilt member chamber 170. Aconnection web 198, again as seen most clearly in FIG. 8, is sized to beslidably received in the vertical tilt member elongated slot 184.

The upper or top surface 138 of the vertical tilt member is, as seen inFIG. 4 defined by a front facet 200 and a rear facet 202. These twofacets 200 and 202 are angled with respect to each other. The firstfacet 200 terminates at a front vertical stop wall 204. The upper slidebody 186 of the horizontal windage slide 106 has a lower first facet 206and a lower second facet 208. These may be seen in FIG. 7 and arestructured so that they will be complementary in shape and size to therespective front and rear facets 200 and 202 of the top surface of thevertical tilt member 104.

The horizontal windage slide 106 is assembled with the previously joinedtogether sight base 102 and vertical tilt member 104. This isaccomplished by first sliding the windage bias spring 185 into thetransverse chamber 170. The lower slide sleeve 188 of the horizontalwindage slide 106 is then slid into the chamber 170 with the connectingweb 198 being received in the elongated slot 184. Once this has beendone, the shank 178 of the windage adjustment screw 174 is threadedthrough the threaded sleeve bore 196 of the lower slide sleeve 188. Thethreaded shank 178 of the windage adjustment screw 174 can have a distalend 210 whose threads are of a reverse hand, or which can be of reduceddiameter. This distal end 210 is received in a retainer 212. As may beseen in FIGS. 5 b and 5 f, the retainer 212 is received in acooperatively shaped retainer recess 214 in the side wall 134 of thevertical tilt member 104 opposite to the shouldered horizontal bore 172in the other side wall 132 of the vertical tilt member 104.

The retainer 212 will rotate with the rotation of the windage adjustmentscrew 174. That rotation of the windage adjustment screw 174 causes thethreaded sleeve 188, through which the threaded shank 178 of the windageadjustment screw 174 passes to move transversely in the chamber 170 ofthe vertical tilt member 104 against the force exerted by the windagebias spring 185. The rotation of the retainer 212 on the distal end 210of the windage adjustment screw 174 means that the windage adjustmentscrew 174 cannot be turned enough to move the lower slide sleeve 188 outof its channel 170.

The horizontal windage slide 106 is supported on the vertical tiltmember 104 by the cooperative engagement of the tilt member upper facets200 and 202 with the lower facets 206 and 208 of the horizontal windageslide 106. These cooperating supporting facets are, as seen in FIGS. 4and 5 b cooperatively inclined so that they support the horizontal slide106 on the vertical tilt member in a manner which will ensure that thehorizontal slide 106 cannot rock or pivot fore or aft in response to thealmost violent reciprocation of the slide 28 during firing of the pistol20. In prior devices, the connecting web 198, or its equivalentstructure, in previous configurations, was the sole support of the upperportion of the horizontal windage slide; i.e. the upper slide body 186.When the pistol slide 28 reciprocated, that connecting web was subjectedto substantial force. Even though it is made, at least in applicant'sdevice, of a high grade steel alloy, it was possible, after repeatedcycles of use, that the web could fracture. In the present device, asdepicted in the first embodiment discussed above, and as will bediscussed shortly in connection with the several other preparedembodiments, the cooperation of the vertical tilt member facets with thehorizontal windage slide facets and the first stop wall 204 with theslide body front wall 192 means that the horizontal windage slide body106 will not flex or shift in response to the rapid reciprocatingmovements of the pistol slide 28. This ensures that the adjustable nightsight of the present invention will be much more durable and robust, andwill provide a much greater service life than has been provided bysimilar devices.

Referring now primarily to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, the horizontal windageslide 106 of the adjustable night sight is provided with a pair ofluminescent vial receiving bores 220 and 222. Each such bore has a borediameter which is adapted to receive a luminescent vial. Typically,these vials are thin-walled glass vials which have an inner surface thatis coated with a phosphor. The vial is charged with tritium gas or asimilar radioactive isotope that will cause the phosphors to glow. Thethin-walled glass vials are placed in reinforcing sleeves, typically ofmetal. The vials, several of which are depicted schematically at 224 inFIG. 13, are inserted into the cooperating vial receiving bores 220 and222. As may be seen most clearly in FIGS. 6 and 7, each vial receivingbore 220, 222 has an exhaust port 226, 228 respectively. These exhaustports 226, 228 extend from an inner terminus of each such vial bore toan exterior surface of the horizontal slide 104. The luminescent vials224 are held in their respective vial bores 220, 222 by a suitableadhesive which is placed into each vial bore before the insertion of theassociated vial into the bore. Excess adhesive and any trapped air isforced out the exhaust port concurrently with the insertion of thecorresponding vial. This means that each illuminating vial will be heldsecurely in place in the respective vial base.

The rear wall 136 of the body of the vertical tilt member 104 isprovided with a plurality of horizontally extending, v-shaped notches orserrations, generally at 230. The purpose of these serrations can bestbe understood by referring to FIGS. 5 a and 5 e. These serrations 230are located just below the luminescent vials 224 which are situated oneither side of the sighting 190 formed in the horizontal windage slide106. Their purpose is to reduce, or to eliminate reflective glare thatmight result if this surface were provided with a smooth, reflectivefinish. The use of these serrations is exemplary of various reflectionreducing surface configurations, such as cross-hatching and the likewhich could also be used. As will be understood by one of skill in theart, the luminous spots or dots created by the tritium-filled vials willborder the rear surface 194 of the horizontal windage slide wallsadjacent the sighting notch 190. They will cooperate with a similarluminescent spot or strip on the front right 40 to properly arm thepistol to which these sights are attached.

Referring again to FIGS. 5A to 5F, the first preferred embodiment of theadjustable night sight, generally at 100, in accordance with the presentinvention is remarkably smooth in overall appearance. The heads of boththe elevation adjustment screw 154 and of the windage adjustment screw174 are flush with the body of the vertical tilt member. The luminescentvials are embedded in the rear face of the horizontal windage slide 106.There are no projections or protrusions which would create a snaggingproblem. The overall appearance of the first embodiment 100 of theadjustable night sight in accordance with the present invention is verysmooth, clean and robust.

Referring now to FIG. 9, there may be seen generally at 300 a secondpreferred embodiment of an adjustable night sight in accordance with thepresent invention. The sight base body 302 and the vertical tilt member304 for this second preferred embodiment 300 of the adjustable nightsight are the same as their counterparts which were previously describedin connection with the first preferred embodiment 100. The various leadlines and reference numerals, which are common to both embodiments havebeen left off the second embodiment depicted in FIG. 9.

In the second embodiment 300, the horizontal windage slide 306 that wasdescribed and depicted in connection with the first embodiment, can bereplaced with a fibert optic horizontal windage slide, generally at 310.This fiber optic horizontal windage slide 310 is the same in overallstructure as the luminescent horizontal windage slide 306 with theexception of its sight notch 312. That sight notch 312 is formed by afront wall notch 320 in the front wall 322 of the windage slide 310 andby an aligned rear wall notch 324 in the horizontal windage slide rearwall 326. These notches are separated by a recess 328 which is formed inthe body of the horizontal windage slide 310 and which extends into thebody of the horizontal windage slide 310 from its upper body surface330. Each of the front wall notch 320 and the rear wall notch 324 arebounded by generally horizontal through bores into which are securedfiber optic elements 332. These fiber optic elements 332 serveessentially the same purpose as the luminescent vials of the firstpreferred embodiment. They border the sight notch with spots or pointsof light. These spots or points of light combine with a source ofluminescence, or the like, on the front sight blade, to add in theproper sighting of the pistol. While the first and second preferredembodiments depict dot or spot sources of illumination or luminescence,other patterns, such as “dash-dot-dash” or “ball in a bucket” are withinthe scope of the present invention. The uniqueness of the night sightcapability of the present invention resides, to a large extent, on itsability to provide these sources of luminescence in a structure that hasno protrusions or projections.

Turning now initially to FIG. 10, there may be seen a third preferredembodiment of an adjustable night sight, generally at 400, in accordancewith the present invention. The third preferred embodiment again usesthe three primary components of a sight base 402, a sight vertical tiltmember 404 and a horizontal windage slide 406 as were described inconnection with the first and second embodiments 100 and 300. It will beunderstood that the fiber optic horizontal windage slide 306 of thesecond preferred embodiment could be used in connection with either, orboth of the first and third embodiments.

As may be seen in FIG. 10, the sight base 402 is provided with a sightbase bottom 408 which has been shortened in the longitudinal directionof the pistol slide. The sight base side walls 414 and 416 arecantilevered away from the sight base bottom 408 at their forward ends.The result is the provision of a pair of sight base cut-outs 418 and 420at the lower, forward edges of the sight base side walls 414 and 416,respectively. The provision of these cut-outs 418 and 420 may shortenthe longitudinal dimension of the sight base 402. This may beappropriate when the adjustable night sight of the present invention isto be used with a pistol slide 430, as seen in FIGS. 11 and 12 in whichthe rear transverse Novak-style notch 432 is either smaller in front torear dimension, or wherein the cantilever structure of the sight base402 will provide additional support for the sight 400 by having thenotched-out portions of the two sight base side walls 414 and 416engaging the top of the pistol slide 430. It could also be appropriateto use a sight base 402, as depicted in FIG. 10 to ensure that the rearwall 436 of the third embodiment 400 of the adjustable right sight isaligned with a rear wall 438 of the pistol slide. This type of alignmentand overall integration of the adjustable night sight into the pistolslide is important, as discussed above, to insure that the adjustablenight sight is smooth, durable, robust and does not give rise to anysnagging problems.

A fourth preferred embodiment of an adjustable night sight assembly, inaccordance with the present invention, is depicted generally at 500 inFIG. 13. This fourth preferred embodiment utilizes the same threeprimary components of a sight base 502, a vertical tilt member 504 and ahorizontal windage slide 506. The sight base 502 is depicted in FIG. 13as having the same structure as is shown in FIG. 10. It could also havethe structure of the first and second embodiments, as depicted in FIGS.4 and 9, respectively.

The vertical tilt member 504 of the fourth preferred embodiment has atransverse chamber 510 provided with a transverse elongated slot 512,which chamber 510 and slot 512 are the same, in function, as the chamber170 and the elongated slot 184 discussed in connection with the firstembodiment 100. However, in the fourth preferred embodiment, thiselongated slot 512 is open to a rear wall 516 of the vertical tiltmember 504. The elongated slot 512 is bounded by an upper, two componentfaceted portion of rear wall 516. An adjacent upper rear wall facet 518and a remote upper rear wall facet 520 are located in the rear wall 516of the vertical tilt member above the elongated slot 512. A lowersection 522 of the rear wall 516 is situated below the elongated slot512.

The horizontal windage slide 506 of the fourth preferred embodiment 500of the adjustable night sight, in accordance with the present invention,has a windage slide body 526 that carries a sighting notch 530. Whilenot specifically depicted in FIG. 13, it will be understood that thewindage slide body 526 carries a slide sleeve 538 on a forward or frontface 540. That slide sleeve 538 is the same in structure and function,as the slide sleeve 188 which was discussed in connection with FIG. 4.It is received in the transverse chamber 510 and is used to attach thehorizontal windage slide 506 to the vertical tilt member 504.

As may be seen in FIG. 13, and also in FIG. 14, the horizontal windageslide 506 has a faceted front face 540. This front face has three facets542, 544 and 546, as seen in FIG. 14. These three windage slide facets542, 544 and 546 are complementary to the three vertical tilt memberrear wall facets 518, 520 and 522. The result is again the securesupport of the horizontal windage slide 506 on the vertical tilt member504 of this fourth preferred embodiment of the adjustable night sight ina manner the same as was discussed in connection with the firstpreferred embodiment.

Again referring to FIG. 13, a rear wall 554 of the horizontal windageslide of the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention hasthree elongated vial receiving recesses 556, 558 and 560. These aresized to receive the luminescent sources, such as the tritium vials 224shown in FIG. 13. Since these vials are now placed in the elongatedrecesses 556, 558 and 560, they define the “bucket” portion of the“ball-in-a-bucket” sight pattern.

It will also be seen, by referring to FIG. 13, that the rear wall 554 ofthe horizontal windage slide 506 is provided with serrations or notches550. The purpose of the serrations or notches 550 of the fourthpreferred embodiment are the same as the serrations or notches 230 ofthe first preferred embodiment. They are used to reduce the likelihoodof reflective glare interfering with the shooter's view of the rearsight notch that is a part of the horizontal windage slide 506.

In all of the above-described preferred embodiments of the adjustablenight sight in accordance with the present invention, all of thecomponents are preferably fabricated from tool steel or steelscustomarily employed in gunmaking. These components are preferablymachined using spark erosion methods or EDM methods.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that the presentinvention makes available an optical alignment instrument or adjustablenight sight providing reliable and stable position adjustability in twopreferably orthogonal directions. Other combinations of these mechanismscan be envisioned which will provide the intended result, namelyproviding a compact, adjustable optical alignment device or adjustablenight sight to permit a smooth and snag-free draw, a clear sight pictureand rugged service.

Having described preferred embodiments of the adjustable night sight inaccordance with the present invention, it is believed that othermodifications, variations and changes will be suggested to those skilledin the art in view of the teachings set forth herein. It is therefore tobe understood that all such variations, modifications and changes arebelieved to fall within the scope of the present invention, as set forthin the following claims.

1. An adjustable night sight adapted to be secured to a slide of apistol, said adjustable night sight comprising: a sight base including asight base bottom and spaced upstanding sight base side walls, saidsight base bottom and said sight base side walls defining a sight basechannel; a vertical tilt member securable to said sight base, saidvertical tilt member including a tilt member body with a transversechamber and a tilt member tongue, said tilt member tongue beingsecurable in said sight base channel; a hinge pin receivable in alignedsight base hinge pin apertures in said spaced sight base side walls andin a transverse tongue hinge bore in said tilt member tongue; means forvarying an angle of inclination of said vertical tilt member withrespect to said sight base body; a horizontal windage slide including aslide body and a slide sleeve, said slide sleeve being movable in saidtransverse chamber in said vertical tilt member; means for adjustablypositioning said horizontal windage slide in said vertical tilt member;a plurality of angled facet walls on said tilt member body; a pluralityof complementary angled facet surfaces on said horizontal windage slide,said angled facet walls and said angled facet surfaces cooperating tosupport said horizontal windage slide on said vertical tilt member formovement in a direction transverse to a longitudinal barrel direction ofthe pistol while preventing movement of said horizontal windage slide inthe longitudinal barrel direction.
 2. The adjustable night sight ofclaim 1 further including a rear sight notch in said horizontal windageslide and sources of luminescence in said horizontal slide memberadjacent said rear sight notch.
 3. the adjustable night sight of claim 2where each said source of luminescence is a tritium vial.
 4. Theadjustable night sight of claim 3 further including vial receiving boresin said horizontal windage slide, each said vial receiving bore havingan exhaust port, each said exhaust port extending from an interiorportion of said vial receiving bore to an exterior surface of saidhorizontal windage slide.
 5. The adjustable night sight of claim 1further including an elongated slot in said vertical tilt member bodyand extending from said transverse chamber to said faceted walls.
 6. Theadjustable night sight of claim 5 wherein a first one of said facetedwalls is on a first side of said elongated slot and a second one of saidfaceted walls is on a second side of said elongated slot.
 7. Theadjustable night sight of claim 6 further including a connecting webextending from said slide sleeve to said slide body, said plurality ofangled facet surfaces on said horizontal windage slide including a firstfacet surface on a first side of said connecting web and a second facetsurface on a second side of said connecting web.
 8. The adjustable nightsight of claim 7 wherein said angled facet walls and said complementaryangled facet surfaces define non-planar supports for said horizontalwindage slide on said vertical tilt member.
 9. The adjustable nightsight of claim 2 further including a plurality of reflection reducingserrations on one of said vertical tilt member and said horizontalwindage slide.
 10. The adjustable night sight of claim 9 wherein saidserrations are generally parallel to said transverse chamber.
 11. Theadjustable night sight of claim 9 wherein said serrations are beneathsaid rear sight notch.
 12. The adjustable night sight of claim 1 whereinsaid horizontal windage slide positioning means includes a windageadjustment screw receivable in a threaded bore in said slide sleeve. 13.The adjustable night sight of claim 12 wherein said windage adjustmentscrew has a screw head receivable in a shouldered bore in said verticaltilt member.
 14. The adjustable night sight of claim 13 furtherincluding a positional detent in said shouldered bore and engageablewith said windage adjustment screw head.
 15. The adjustable night sightof claim 1 further including a rear sight notch in said horizontalwindage slide and sources of illumination in said horizontal slidemember adjacent said rear sight notch.
 16. The adjustable night sight ofclaim 15 wherein said sources of illumination are fiber optic elements.17. The adjustable night sight of claim 1 further including at least onebearing spring between said sight base bottom and said vertical tiltmember and adapted to pivot said vertical tilt member about said hingepin.
 18. The adjustable night sight of claim 17 wherein said means forvarying said angle of inclination is an elevation adjustment screwconnecting said sight base and said vertical tilt member.
 19. Theadjustable night sight of claim 1 wherein said slide sleeve isreceivable in said transverse chamber.
 20. The adjustable night sight ofclaim 19 further including a horizontal windage slide biasing spring insaid transverse chamber.